The week that was: What we liked, didn't like

1. Arrival of spring break. Sure, most of us have to work next week. But now the kids will stop asking, “When is it going to be spring break?” Now! The forecast looks good for those staying here; we applaud those who are spending their time off helping others.

2. Gas price dropping. Just in time for a little traveling, the pump price dipped this week. Wouldn’t mind if that becomes a trend.

3. Well-deserved honors, even late. A man who dropped out of school to support his family was given an honorary degree from Beverly (Mass.) High School. He is 106 years old! Closer to home, an Army veteran living in Stamford, L.H. Simpson, received medals he earned when he was all of 19 years old. It’s encouraging to see perseverance rewarded.

4. Noah Project fundraiser. At the Styx concert Sunday night, guitarist Tommy Shaw’s daughter, Hannah, came to the stage to ask folks to fork over some cash to buy a ticket to win a guitar autographed by the band. In each city it plays, Styx lends support to a local nonprofit through the Rock to the Rescue program; selected here was an organization that advocates for the victims of family, domestic and dating violence. The effort raised $1,300. Styx, you guys rock!

5. Dern good opera. We are fortunate to get a little bit of everything in Abilene, including first-rate opera. Congratulations to Abilene Opera Association for bringing the Texas premiere of “The Hotel Casablanca” to the Paramount Theatre stage. And when the curtain went down on that show, it made way for Sunday delightful “ImaginOcean” performance for the kids.

OK, one more ...

5A. Super speller. Home-schooled seventh-grader Katie Miller defended her championship in the Hendrick Children’s Hospital Big Country Spelling Bee. She gets to go to Washington. D.C., for the Scripps National Spelling Bee again ... and, we hope, get Congress on the same page while she is there.

What we didn’t like

1. Drought news. February snow helped the Panhandle but other parts of the state got no precipitation last month. Add news that global temperatures are rising and, well, we’re feeling hot and dry already. We are not looking forward to the coming months if this year is anything like the hottest and seventh hottest summers we’ve had back to back.

2. Commotion about working remotely. Obviously, some jobs need to be done on site. Heff can’t make burgers from home. But today, it’s logical and cost-effective to use folks who don’t have to be in an office. The trick is managing those who are working somewhere else. Telecommuting is an asset but it must be a managed asset.

3. Justin Bieber, Justin Bieber, Justin Blabber. Well, first he waxed eloquently through social media about those who would criticize him. Then he faints on stage. Once upon a time, Justin was cute. Now, he’s so five minutes ago. Our daughters have moved on.

4. Sequester, Week 1. It has been a week since automatic spending cuts were to go into effect. The sky hasn’t fallen but maybe that’s what we needed. A week more or so passed quietly, and still nothing. That really is March madness!

5. Wylie boys losing. Lots of credit to this team, which extended the Wylie state basketball streak to four straight years. The Bulldogs ran headlong into a very good Dallas Madison team but a 34-5 record is one of the best in school history.